Soot remover



Feb. 4, J E SOOT REMOVER Filed Oct. 51, 1962 James E Sc/rel/ 1N VEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,120,020 509T REMOVER James E. Sehell, Rosebud, Ark. Paul Woolridge, Rte. 7, Box 4048, Decatur, Ill.) Filed Get. 31, 1962, Ser. No. 234,352 4- Claims. (Cl. --2 i9) The present invention rel-ates to a portable manually applicable and removable stove accessory which is appropriately constructed and designed to enable a user thereof to effectually loosen and remove soot which has accumulated on a fire pot or stovepipe surface.

Oil burning stoves are popularly used in house trailers and it is periodically necessary, in order to obtain adequate results to scrape, dislodge and otherwise clean heavy soot deposits from the Wall of the fire pot. At best this is a chore which is time-consuming and perplexing particularly when one is unlikely to have satisfactory tools or implements to do the job. Manifestly this situation gave rise to the presence of a problem which has for some time remained unsolved. It follows that it is an object in the instant matter to provide a trailer owner with a simple, practical and easy-to-use mechanical device which will enable the user thereof to quickly loosen and rernove the loosened soot and to accomplish this by way of the usual hinged door-covered opening at the front of the stove.

In carrying out a feasible and practical embodiment of the invention a readily applicable and removable device is utilized. Broadly it is characterized by a rotatable shaft provided with flexible beater elements having free ends arranged and adapted to whirl in an orbital path and to beat against the soot-coated surface which is to be cleaned and restored, means being provided for supporting the shaft in the space which it occupies when in use and additional means being provided for imparting rotation to the shaft.

More particularly the invention comprises a U-shaped bracket embodying a bight portion provided with lateral end portions having aligned shaft bearings, a shaft having an end portion rotatable in said bearings, a portion of said shaft extending beyond one end portion and being provided with free swinging beater chains having inner ends secured to said shaft and outer free ends adapted to be whipped forcibly into contact with the soot which is to be dislodge-d and freed from the surfaces which are being cleaned, a crankshaft having the shaft portion thereof mounted on said bight portion, and an operating connection between said shaft and said shaft portion.

Further novelty is predicated on the structure set forth and wherein the bight portion has a right angularly disposed sleeve fixed thereon, said sleeve constituting a hearing. -A crankshaft is provided and the shaft portion is confined and rotatable in the sleeve and the handle or crank is located at the outer end of the sleeve. The shaft portion has a beveled pinion and the driven shaft has a pinion whereby to provide simple motion transmitting gearing which transfers motion from the crankshaft to the chain-equipped shaft.

In addition to the above novelty is predicated on the utilization of a simple plate which serves as a support for the sleeve and crankshaft and which is provided with a handle or handgrip, the plate being such that it provides a shield over the door opening when the device is being used.

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These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective showing a fragmentary portion of an oil burner and a fire pot, showing the door swung open and illustrating the soot dislod ging and surface-cleaning device applied and being used;

FIGURE 2 is a Wiew on a slightly enlarged scale which is taken approximately on the plane of the line 22 of FIGURE 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 3 is a view of the device by itself removed from the stove and which brings out the bracket and gearing arrangement.

With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2 the trailer-type stove is denoted, generally speaking, by the numeral 6, the fire pot being designated at 8, the body or stovepipe at 10. This part may also be designated as the body portion of the stove. As shown in FIG. 2 there is a door opening provided at 12 which is adapted to be closed by an appropriate door 14 (FIG. 1) which is hingedly mounted as at 1 6. By opening the door 14 and uncovering the opening 12 the soot cleaning device, the invention under advisement here, may be readily brought into play. Referring first t0 FIGURE 2 the numeral 18 designates a vertical driven shaft which is provided with a lower portion equipped with a plurality of vertically spaced wlhirlable flexible heating elements, more explicitly appropriate chains 22 having inward end portions 24, appropriately joined to the shaft portion 20. The chains are of sufficient length that when they are forcibly rotated in the fire pot the free terminal ends flail the surfaces in an obvious manner and function to dislodge and loosen soot deposits. The upper end portion 26 is supported and mounted for rotation by support means which, more s ecifically, comprises a substantially U-shaped bracket 28. The bracket has a bight portion 30'- and upper and lower horizontal limb portions 32 and 34 having aligned holes which constitute bearings for the cooperating portion of the shaft. The upper portion of the shaft situated between the arms or limbs 32 and 34 is provided with a suitable fixedly mounted beveled pinion 36 which meshes with and is driven by a handaturned beveled gear 38 within the confines of the bracket 28 and parallel to the bight port-ion. This beveled gear is mounted on the horizontal shaft portion 40 of the crankshaft 42. More particularly the crank portion is mounted for rotation in a sleeve 44 which has one end joining an opening in the bight portion with which it cooperates. .The other end is fixedly secured as at 46 to the interior lower bottom or marginal portion of a temporary cover plate or shield 48. The part of the plate to which the sleeve is attached is provided with a registerable bearing hole 50 to accommodate the 'coacting portion of the shaft portion 40. The crank which constitutes the handle is denoted at 52 and a portion thereof is provided with a suitable handgrip 54. The crank is disposed on the exterior side of the plate 48 where it is readily accessible and turn-able in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1. If desired, the end portion of the sleeve which is attached to the plate may be seated upon the edge portion 56 of the opening to assist in stabilizing the overall device. Ordinarily, however, the device while strong and durable is nevertheless light in weight and is easy to handle by stabilizing the plate with a diagonal loop-like handgrip 58. This handgrip is attached to the upper median edge of the plate 48 diametrically opposite to the crankshaft 42. Consequently using both hands one holding the grip or handle 58 and the other turning and holding the crankshaft it will be evident that when the device is in the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 the turning shaft 18 actuates the beater chains the latter functioning to loosen soot deposits in a manner to effect the cleaning and restoring result desired.

It is believed that a careful consideration of the speci fication in conjunction with the views of the drawing will enable the reader to obtain a clear and comprehensive understanding of the invention, its features and advantages and the manner of using it for satisfactory results. Therefore, a more extended description is thought to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A soot flailing, loosening and dislodging device for cooperative use within the fire pot of a stove wherein the wall of the fire pot has a door opening and is provided with an openable and closable door normally covering said opening, said device comprising: a cover plate for said door opening, said cover plate being of a size and shape that it can be lined up with said door opening when the door is open, said cover plate having interior and exterior sides, a loop-like handgrip having an end thereof fixed to the exterior side of said cover plate adjacent a cooperating marginal edge of the plate, said handgrip being disposed at an angle oblique to the plane Otf said plate, said plate being provided with an open diametrically opposite to said handgrip and located inwardly of an adjacent marginal edge of the plate, a bearing sleeve disposed at right angles to the interior side of said cover plate and adapted to project into the chamber portion of said fire pot, said bearing sleeve having an outer end fixedly joined to the plate in line with said opening and a portion of said outer end being adapted to rest on a marginal edge of the aforementioned door opening in a manner which aids in positioning and supporting the cover plate, a shaft disposed at right angles to said sleeve, said shaft being adapted for axial turning within the confines of the fire po-t chamber and being provided :with flailing chains having inner ends only attached to said shaft, bracket means operatively mounting said shaft on said bearing sleeve, a crankshaft having a .shaft portion passing through the aforementioned opening, through 'the sleeve, and beyond the bracket and having operating connection with said first-named shaft, sa-id crankshaft having a crank handle positioned for accessible use outwardly of the exterior surface of said cover plate.

2. A manually usable portable cleaning device designed and adapted to dislodge and clean soot deposits from the walls of a fire pot in a stove, said device comprising: a bearing sleeve adapted to assume a horizontal position in the chamber portion of said fire pot, said sleeve having an outer end portion designed and appropriately adapted to rest for support on a marginal edge portion of a doorclosed opening affording access to the fire pot, a shaft having its axis disposed at right angles to the lengthwise axis of said sleeve, said shaft having a portion thereof provided with free-swinging flailing chains, said chains having inner ends thereof attached to said shaft, a bracket having bearings in which an end portion of said shaft is mounted for rotation, said bracket being connected to and supported by a cooperating inner end portion of said bearing sleeve, a crankshaft having a shaft portion mounted for rotation in said bearing sleeve with an inner end portion projecting to a position in close proximity to the bracket and shaft, an operating connection between the shaft and a coacting shaft portion of said crankshaft, a cover plate designed and adapted to be placed over a door opening in the fire pot in a manner to temporarily olose said door opening, said plate having a lower marginal edge portion joined to a cooperating outer end of said sleeve and depending to a position below the sleeve, said depending portion being adapted to reside in contact with an exterior surface of the fire pot and the adjacent outer end of said sleeve cooperating therewith in positioning and supporting the cover plate, and handle means attached to an available outer marginal portion of said plate and located diametrically opposite to the shaft portion of said crankshaft.

3. A portable manually usable cleaning device designed and adapted to enable the user thereof to dislodge and clean soot deposits from walls of a fire pot in a stove having a door-closed opening, a U-shaped bracket hav ing an apcrtured bight portion and lateral spaced parallel arm portions, said arm portions having shaft bearings, a shaft having one end portion thereof journaled for rotation in the bearings and parallel to said bight portion, and having an end portion thereof extending beyond an adjacent arm of said bracket and provided with whirlable flailing chains, said chains being secured at inner ends only to said shaft, 21 crankshaft having a shaft portion journaled for rotation in the aperture in said bight portion, and projecting beyond the bight portion and operatively connected with said shaft, a bearing sleeve having one end aligned with the aperture in said bight portion and fixed to said bight portion, the shaft portion of said crankshaft being journaled for rotation in said sleeve, and a cover plate for the door opening, said cover plate adapted to be manually pressed and held firmly against an exterior surface of the fire box in a manner to cover the door opening, said cover plate having a bearing opening with which an adjacent outer end portion of said sleeve is aligned, said sleeve being fixed to said plate, the crank portion of said shaft being disposed in an operable position beyond an exterior side of said plate, and a handgrip disposed in a position substantially diametrically opposite the shaft portion of the crankshaft and having an end thereof attached to said cover plate adjacent a marginal edge of the plate.

4. A portable manually usable cleaning device adapted for use when one finds it necessary to dislodge and clean soot deposits from the wall of a fire pot in a stove having a door-closed opening, said device comprising: a cover plate designed and adapted to be held by hand over the aforementioned door opening in a manner to cover said opening during the soot dislodging step, said plate being provided adjacent one marginal edge with an opening and further being provided on one side with a bearing sleeve which is fixed at one end to the plate and is disposed in a plane at right angles to the plane of the plate, a U-shaped bracket having an apertured bight portion with the aperture thereof aligned with the bore of the sleeve and with the apertured portion fixed to the adjacent cooperating end of the sleeve, said bracket having laterally directed opposed parallel arms provided with bearings, a shaft having one end portion journaled for rotation in the bearings provided therefor in said arm, a plurality of beater chains having inwardly disposed ends thereof fixed to and carried by an operating portion of said shaft, said chains having free outer ends to flail the soot coated surfaces in the aforementioned fire pot, a crankshaft having a turnable shaft portion journaled for free rotation in said bearing sleeve, one end of said shaft portion projection into close proximity with that portion of the shaft which is rotatable on the arms of said bracket and having operating connection with the shaft to impart rotation thereto when the crankshaft is turned in said bearing sleeve, said sleeve having an outer end portion aligned with an opening provided therefor in a cooperating marginal portion of said plate, the crank portion of said crankshaft being disposed in an operating position beyond an adjacent surface of the plate, and an elongated loop-like handgrip disposed at an oblique angle to a cooperating surface of said plate and having an end portion thereof fixed to the surface of the plate adjacent a marginal edge of the plate, said handgnip assisting in holding the cover plate in its covering position While the device is being used.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A SOOT FLAILING, LOOSEING AND DISLODGING DEVICE FOR COOPERATIVE USE WITHIN THE FIRE POT OF A STOVE WHEREIN THE WALL OF THE FIRE POT HAS A DOOR OPENING AND IS PROVIDED WITH AN OPENABLE AND CLOSABLE DOOR NORMALLY COVERING SAID OPENING, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING: A COVER PLATE FOR SAID DOOR OPENING, SAID COVER PLATE BEING OF A SIZE AND SHAPE THAT IT CAN BE LINED UP WITH SAID DOOR OPENING WHEN THE DOOR IS OPEN, SAID COVER PLATE HAVING INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SIDES, A LOOP-LIKE HANDGRIP HAVING AN END THEREOF FIXED TO THE EXTERIOR SIDE OF SAID COVER PLATE ADJACENT A COOPERATING MARGINAL EDGE OF THE PLATE, SAID HANDGRIP BEING DISPOSED AT AN ANGLE OBLIQUE TO THE PLANE OF SAID PLATE, SAID PLATE BEING PROVIDED WITH AN OPEN DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE TO SAID HANDGRIP AND LOCATED INWARDLY OF AN ADJACENT MARGINAL EDGE OF THE PLATE, A BEARING SLEEVE DISPOSED AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE INTERIOR SIDE OF SAID COVER PLATE AND ADAPTED TO PROJECT INTO THE CHAMBER PORTION OF SAID FIRE POT, SAID BEARING SLEEVE HAVING AN OUTER END FIXEDLY JOINED TO THE PLATE IN LINE WITH SAID OPENING AND A PORTION OF SAID OUTER END BEING ADAPTED TO REST ON A MARGINAL EDGE OF THE AFOREMENTIONED DOOR OPENING IN A MANNER WHICH AIDS IN POSITIONING AND SUPPORTING THE COVER PLATE, A SHAFT DISPOSED AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID SLEEVE, SAID SHAFT BEING ADAPTED FOR AXIAL TURNING WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE FIRE POT CHAMBER AND BEING PROVIDED WITH FLAILING CHAINS HAVING INNER ENDS ONLY ATTACHED TO SAID SHAFT, BRACKET MEANS OPERATIVELY MOUNTING SAID SHAFT ON SAID BEARING SLEEVE, A CRANKSHAFT HAVING A SHAFT PORTION PASSING THROUGH THE AFOREMENTIONED OPENING, THROUGH THE SLEEVE, AND BEYOND THE BRACKET AND HAVING OPERATING CONNECTION WITH SAID FIRST-NAMED SHAFT, SAID CRANKSHAFT HAVING A CRANK HANDLE POSITIONED FOR ACCESSIBLE USE OUTWARDLY OF THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID COVER PLATE. 